Development Funding Guide

The following is a selected listing of Canadian development funds offering monies for script development:

Astral Media The Harold Greenberg FundWhat it funds: Feature length projects (over 75 minutes)Who can apply: writers and/or producers with two long-form creditsWhat it offers:Script Development Program - The Fund will consider up to $2,500.00 of allowable administrative costs, in addition to the full amount of the option for the story option phase. Up to $18,000 may be advanced for the first draft phase, up to $12,000 for the second draft phase, up to $10,000 for the final draft phase and up to $25,000 for more advanced polish and packaging phase for costs related to script polishing, packaging and preliminary cast interest.

Canada Media Fund - Development Funding
What it funds: projects funded through this program must include content to be developed for distribution on at least two platforms, one of which must be television.Who can apply: producers, writers (To be eligible, projects must have received a financial commitment from a broadcaster).What it offers: Broadcasters may decide what proportion of their Broadcaster Development Envelope to allot to an Eligible Project, up to a specified Maximum Contribution amount.More info: http://www.cmf-fmc.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=90&page_mode=create&Itemid=82

COGECO Program Development FundWhat it funds: Dramatic TV series, MOWs, and feature films

Development and Production Program:Who can apply: Independent Canadian producers with a minimum of two years' production experience. Screenwriters must be Canadian. A firm commitment from a Canadian broadcaster is required.What it offers: Development and production programs offer loans for the development of bibles, treatments, first or final draft scripts, and equity financing for productionDeadlines: check website

Cogeco Pre-Development Fund: What it offers: $10,000 for third party pre-development costs: screenwriters, consultants, script editors, researchers, marketing specialists, sales and promotional materials. Screenwriters who have producer credits, including those as showrunner, are eligible to apply. Deadline: October 1More Info: http://cogecofund.ca/

Canada Council for the Arts:
Grants to Individual Artists, Film & Video Artists: ScriptwritingWhat it funds: The direct costs of scriptwriting (including research for artists' documentaries), for independent film and video artworksWho can apply: Writers who have had at least one script used in an independent production by an established or mid-career film or video artistWhat it offers: Grants ranging from $3,000-$20,000Deadlines: March 1 & October 1More info:
Ian Reid
Media Arts Section Officer
Tel: 613-566-4414 or 1-800-263-5588, ext. 4264
Website: www.canadacouncil.ca/mediaarts/

Public Funding: Provincial

Alberta Cultural Industries Association: Telus Television Development FundWhat it funds: Development of TV programs in drama, musical & variety, children's, comedy or documentary; preference given to Alberta-specific storiesWhat if offers: Interest-free loans of up to $10,000More info:
Tel: 780-498-5536

BC FilmWhat it funds: Film or television projects in development owned and controlled by resident BC production companies; OR Matching salary opportunities for television story-editors to intern on a network television series.Who can apply: BC-resident production companies who have received a development advance from a broadcaster or distributor; OR BC-resident mid-level television story editors committed to a career in television with a mentor company attachedWhat it offers: Project Development Fund - can match up to 50% of a project development advance from a recognized broadcaster or distributor, subject to available funds; OR Professional Internship Program - provides matching salary funding up to $300 week for 20-50 week internships.More info:
Tel: 604-736-7997
Email: bcf@bcfilm.bc.ca
Web site: www.bcfilm.bc.ca

Manitoba Film and SoundWhat it funds: Features, MOWs, documentaries, TV series, performing arts and children's programmingWhat it offers: up to 50% of development budget, up to$25,000 for three phases combined under the TV and Low Budget Feature Film Development Programs; $35,000 combined in all four phases of the Feature Film Development program.Market Driven Television & Feature Film Production Financing assists in the production financing of a fully developed feature film or television program through equity investments. Manitoba Film & Sound's investment in any production will not exceed the lesser of: 20% of the total production budget, or 30% of the portion of the production budget to be paid to Manitoba residents and businesses (the Manitoba expenditure).Deadlines: see website.
Manitoba Film & Sound is a statutory corporation funded by the Province of Manitoba through the Department of Culture, Heritage and Tourism.More info:
Carole Vivier, CEO
Angie Glesby, Film and Interactive Media Programs
Tel: 204- 947-2040
Email: carole@mbfilmsound.mb.ca /angie@mbfilmsound.mb.ca

New Brunswick FilmWhat it funds: Feature films, MOWs, mini-series, TV series; dramatic, animated, and children's TV, film or video programming; TV, film, and video programs in documentary, educational, experimental, and non-theatrical genresWho can apply: NB based independent production companiesWhat it offers: Non-interest bearing loans, maximum level of participation is 40% of the approved development budget, up to a maximum of $35,000 for feature films, made-for-TV movies or TV series, and up to a maximum of $20,000 for other eligible projectsMore info:
Tel: 506-869-6868
Fax: 506-869-6840
Email: nbfilm@gnb.ca
Web site: www.nbfilm.com

Technology PEIWhat it funds: Features, dramatic TV series, mini-series, MOWS, specials, documentariesWho can apply: PEI-based production companies; must have broadcaster commitmentWhat it offers: Loans of up to 1/3 of the development budget to a maximum of $25,000More info:
Berni Wood
Tel: 902-368-6329 or 1-800-563-3734, ext. 5
Email: mbwood@gov.pe.ca
Website: www.techpei.com

Saskatchewan Film & Development Corporation (SASKFilm)What it funds: theatrical feature films; made-for-television movies and series; short form dramatic, animated, and children's programming; documentaries, educational, experimental, variety, and non-theatrical films and television programs; IMAX or large format productions.

Development Loans:
Objective: The objective of development loans is to augment other resources available to producers to undertake project development, and to bring productions to fruition. SaskFilm targets its resources to companies with demonstrated capabilities to undertake the project as proposed, to projects with significant marketplace interest, and to projects which are designed for export.
Who can apply: Saskatchewan-based producers
What it offers: Dramatic projects, depending on which phase the producer is applying for and what genre the project is, can apply for a maximum of between $3,000.00 and $20,000.00 (but not more than 40% of the approved budget). Non dramatic projects can apply for a maximum of $7,000.00 or $10,000.000 for series (but not more than 40% of the approved budget).More info:
1831 College Avenue
Regina SK S4P 3V7 Canada
Phone: 306 798 3456
Fax: 306 798 7768
Email: general@saskfilm.com
Web: www.saskfilm.com

Société de Développement des Enterprises Culturelles (SODEC)What it funds: Feature films, shot-medium length dramatic films, documentaries, MOWS, mini-seriesWho can apply: Quebec-based individuals or independent production companiesWhat it offers: From 25% to 100% of the costs of script development, to a maximum of $10,000 to $25,000, depending on applicant (individual or company, from private or independent sector). 80% of the agency's development funding is allocated to French-language projectsMore info:
Tel: (514) 841-2200
Web site: www.sodec.gouv.qc.ca